The first step in any legal malpractice case is to review the actions taken by the attorney in question to determine if malpractice, in fact, occurred. Not all cases that are lost or unfavorable legal outcomes are the result of legal malpractice. Instead, it is vital to review the attorneys’ files and possibly court files and other documents to determine if the outcome was due to attorney error or some other cause. As attorneys ourselves, and with the resources we have to research applicable standards of care and consult with other attorneys, we can review the facts and conduct our own legal research to determine if malpractice did occur.
We generally do not charge a fee for the initial review of the case or consultation.
The first thing you should do anytime you believe a lawyer has committed malpractice is take whatever steps are necessary to minimize the damage caused. Those steps could be everything from requesting that the negligent attorney take certain actions to correct his or her error, to seeking a second opinion from another attorney. Once you have attempted to minimize the damage caused, you should contact us immediately. We can then guide you as to the proper way to investigate, evaluate and pursue your case, including preserving evidence.
Even the best lawyers make mistakes. The key factor to consider is whether your lawyer is providing you with sufficient legal services. If not, then you may wish to look for a different lawyer. While no attorney can guarantee a successful result in every legal matter, if you are receiving poor results due to a failure to comply with legal deadlines and rules or a continuing lack of professionalism, then you should consult with us.
No. While a claim against an attorney may require different evidence than a claim against a doctor or anyone else, it will generally be subject to the same statute of limitations and court rules as all other claims, except medical malpractice.
Generally speaking, only medical malpractice claims have special rules designed to make the claims more difficult to bring and to limit the recovery, if the plaintiff is successful.
As personal injury attorneys, Simeone & Miller takes its job of assisting those who are injured through someone else’s negligence seriously. We believe in our nation’s legal system and we know that it is vital to our citizens’ well being, even though it is far from perfect. Accordingly, lawyers must be held accountable for their errors, just like any other citizen or corporation. We help injured people who have claims and need our assistance – whoever the responsible party may be.
While legal malpractice claims typically involve a large investment of time by attorneys, they require relatively little time investment on the part of the client. You should expect to meet with us initially so that we can obtain the information necessary to evaluate your case and begin to pursue your claim. Once we file suit, your role will be limited to a few appearances, such as a deposition, a mediation conference and, of course, trial, if we are not able to settle your case. The exact amount of time you will need to devote depends on the particular type of case you have, but overall is far less than time spent by your attorneys and is very manageable.
Generally, we will advance the costs and expenses in your case. These include expert witness fees, court filing fees, deposition costs, and any other expenses directly related to the litigation of your case. This allows you to pursue a case without having to spend thousands of dollars in costs and expenses.
If a case is difficult to prove, a bad outcome may not be the result of attorney malpractice or negligence, but rather simply the result of the difficulties presented by the case. You may still have a case, but the best step is to consult with us and allow us to investigate the case (generally at no charge). We can then determine whether the outcome was due to negligence or whether the case was lost for other reasons.
Under the professional rules of nearly every state bar association, you are entitled to your original file – no matter what. The attorney has a right to make a copy of the file – at his or her expense – if he wishes to keep a copy. The attorney also is given a reasonable period of time to produce the file to you.
Many attorneys refuse to provide a client’s file or attempt to charge them a fee for copying. This may not be proper and may be a violation of the attorney’s ethical duties. If you consult with Simeone & Miller, we can assist you in obtaining your file because we know the rules and know how to enforce them.
I suspect that years ago my lawyer committed malpractice in the legal services he provided me. It appears the statute of limitations has run; is it too late?
There are numerous exceptions that can serve to lengthen the amount of time one has to file a legal malpractice case. These rules include the discovery rule, the continuing representation rule, and extension for periods of incapacity. As soon as you suspect that you have been a victim of malpractice, you should contact an attorney immediately. What you may believe is a hopeless case may in fact not be.
We handle virtually any type of legal malpractice case including:
Simeone & Miller attorneys practice law in several different areas. Get a no cost, no obligation review of your case. Personal Injury Consultation
No. Fees are a percentage of the award recovered. If there is no recovery, you pay no legal fee. Let's discuss your case today. Personal Injury FAQs
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